The HUGE sale is here...

While I'm sweating in the humid and hot weather of Baltimore Maryland, my wonderful family (grandma too) is spending time pricing and organizing what should turn out to be one of the biggest sales that has ever hit Holly Street...maybe even West Linn. I encourage all interested to head on down to good ol' West Linn and check it out! Follow the craigslist ad: (http://portland.craigslist.org/clc/gms/1870797494.html (garage & moving sales)) if you'd like more info.
During my time in Ukraine, I experienced some hot and humid weather, along with some pretty rockin' thunderstorms. I'm getting a taste of that here again in Baltimore and am hoping that Moldova will have a bit of that as well. Once I get things under control, I'll post more about my trip plans. For now, I'm enjoying my time on my rotation at Johns Hopkins! too-da-loo

humble

I still have over a month before I leave for Moldova and I am realizing everyday what a humbling experience this will be. I have been worried about my funding for this trip. I want to go, so I am planning to pay any extra that I can't raise, but the generosity of old friends...and new friends has been incredible. I wholeheartedly believe in random acts of kindness and I thank all those who have chosen my trip as a way to express their act of kindness. Whether it was a little or a lot, so many people (many of whom I don't get a chance to keep in touch with) have donated to my fund. From the bottom of my heart - thank you.

so much...stuff

I am completely amazed, impressed and astounded by all the response that I've gotten from people about the garage sale. Classmates, professors, and old friends have all stepped up, cleaned out their closets and passed their precious "stuff" on to me. Now I just hope that it all sells! So please spread the word that there will be an incredible garage sale on the last weekend in July in West Linn.

School has been surprisingly difficult to manage this summer quarter, so I haven't had as much time to process the upcoming trip and experience in Moldova. Before I arrive in Moldova, I plan on flying to Albania and then travel through Albania and then on to Macedonia. Both of these countries are still off the radar (i think) of the main travel scene, so I look forward to experiencing them on a real level. I am taking a class this quarter about privilege, oppression and social justice in health care (a mouthful) and have been reading some fascinating literature about how people perceive the world. I am interested to see how my experience in this class will influence my perceptions of the people in Moldova that I will work with as well as how they experience health care.

I have more assignments to complete (not to mention an ultimate frisbee game tonight) so I bid you adieu until the next posting!

Back to the Block...the eastern block

I suppose I need to work on my blog-writing skills. After an almost four year hiatus from loading up any pictures, updates or funny stories, I'm back at it...for the time being. I am off to Moldova with a team of physical and occupational therapists, a nurse and a few students to train medical professionals in Moldova about rehabilitation techniques as well as provide some direct patient care. I will leave for 10 days of travel prior to meeting up with the team on August 31st and join the other team members in Chisinau (capital of Moldova) on September 11. For the next 15 days (Sept 11 - Sept 26), we will work in hospitals and other medical facilities conducting trainings and working with organizations in the town. If you feel so inclined to help, please follow this link
(http://www.medicalteams.org/netcommunity/KelseyWatters)
- a little or a lot - anything helps.

As of right now, I'm reading through information about different assessment tools and tests that we may administer or train health providers about. Since I'm a student, I'll probably be mostly doing assistant work, but I look forward to those rare opportunities for hands on experience!

Keep checking for more good stuff...
Kels